Connector for structural apparatus

ABSTRACT

An assembly for joining a generally cylindrical post to at least one structural member wherein the assembly includes four C-shaped members and strips of an elastic material. Two of the C-shaped members encircle the post and form the top half of the assembly. Two of the C-shaped members encircle the post and form the bottom half of the assembly. The four C-shaped members mounted on a cylindrical post in this configuration provide a channel capable of holding the end of a structural member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an apparatus useful for connecting a cylindrical postto one or more structural members. Playground equipment is frequentlycomprised of a plurality of cylindrical posts secured to the ground anda plurality of other structural members attached to the cylindricalposts. The structural members support play-surfaces such as platforms,monkey-bars, slides, climbing surfaces, and the like. The apparatus usedto connect the cylindrical post to the structural members must provide asolid connection, and must connect multiple structural members to asingle post. Additionally, it is desirable for the connecting apparatusto connect and release from the cylindrical post without damaging orpenetrating the cylindrical post or the cylindrical post's exteriorfinish. This will allow equipment to be adjusted or moved withoutreplacing the cylindrical posts. Additionally, keeping the exteriorfinish of the cylindrical post intact will help prevent corrosion suchas rust. The current invention accomplishes these goals.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A search of related art revealed various devices designed for the samegeneral purpose, but not of like design or function. U.S. Pat. No.5,575,580 discloses a connector for structural apparatus which attachesstructural members to cylindrical posts using screws that pass throughthe connector into the cylindrical post. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,447discloses a connector for structural apparatus which secures theconnector with a set-screw. The current invention accomplishes the samegoal, but does so without damaging the surface of the cylindrical post.Additionally, the current invention is less costly to manufacture thanother clamps currently in use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved connectorassembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural membersto the post.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connectorassembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural membersto the post wherein multiple structural members can be connected to asingle connector assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connectorassembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural membersto the post wherein the post and its finish are not damaged orpenetrated by the connector assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connectorassembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural membersto the post wherein the manufacturing cost of the connector is reducedcompared to other connectors in the art.

In one form thereof, the invention is an apparatus for connecting acylindrical-shaped cylindrical post to at least one other member whereinthe apparatus is comprised of four identical C-shaped members. Two ofthe C-shaped members fit together encircling the cylindrical post andforming the top half of the clamping assembly. Two of the C-shapedmembers fit together encircling the cylindrical post and forming thebottom half of the clamping assembly. The cross-section of the C-shapedmembers is such that when the top half and bottom half of the clampingassembly are positioned adjacent to each other on a cylindrical post achannel is formed around the outside circumference of the clampingassembly. This channel accommodates the end of at least one structuralmember. The structural members are the play-surfaces, or the structuralmembers support play-surfaces.

The invention is further comprised of rubber strips to increase frictionbetween the C-Shaped members and the cylindrical post. Each C-shapedmember has an indentation on the inner face of the connector, the facethat is against the cylindrical post when assembled. A rubber stripslightly thicker than the depth of the indentation is positioned in theindentation. When the C-shaped members are assembled around acylindrical post, this rubber strip is compressed between the post andC-shaped member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one C-shaped member and one strip.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of 4 C-Shaped members, 4 strips, fasteners,the end of a structural member, and a cylindrical post.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp assembled on a cylindricalpost with the end of a structural member in the channel.

FIG. 4 is cut-away view of the assembled clamp on a cylindrical post.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWINGS 10 C-shaped member 12 strips 14cylindrical post 16 first face 18 second face 20 alignment protrusion 22alignment cavity 24 means for fastening 26 inner face 28 indentation 30rib 32 outer surface 34 slot 36 third face 38 first C-shaped member 40second C-shaped member 42 third C-shaped member 44 fourth C-shapedmember 46 channel 48 end of structural member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is comprised of four, identical, C-shaped members 10, andfour identical strips 12, as shown in FIG. 2. An individual C-shapedmember 10 and strip 12 is show in FIG. 1. The four-identical C-shapedmembers 10 are each of an approximate half-circle or “C” shape. Eachstrip 12 has the shape of a rectangular box. The invention is assembledaround a cylindrical post 14 having a generally cylindrical surface.

C-Shaped Members

As shown in FIG. 3, the four, identical, C-shaped members 10 form theclamping assembly. The C-shaped members must be made of a strong, rigidmaterial, such as steel. The size of the C-shaped members will varyaccording to the seize of the cylindrical post 14 being encircled. TheC-shaped members must be sized to fit tightly around the correspondingcylindrical post.

Referring to FIG. 1, each C-shaped member 10 has a first face 16 and asecond face 18. The first and second faces are at the ends of the “C”.These faces show the cross-sectional shape of the C-shaped members. Thecross-section of the C-shaped member is essentially uniform from thefirst face to the second face. The first and second faces are generallyflat but have elements that aid in the alignment of the faces to thesecond and first faces of another C-shaped member. The first face 16 hasan alignment protrusion 20 extending out of the face. The second face 18has an alignment cavity 22 corresponding to the first face's alignmentprotrusion 20. Likewise, the second face 18 has an alignment protrusion20 extending out of the face and the first face 16 has an alignmentcavity 22 corresponding to the second face's alignment protrusion 20.Hence there is a protrusion and cavity on each of the first and secondfaces of the C-Shaped member. These means for alignment are shown in thefigures as cylindrical, however these elements can be other shapes. Eachfirst and second face also has a means for fastening 24 to fasten theface to another face. As pictured in the figures, this means forfastening is a hole which accommodates a bolt or screw.

The C-shaped members have an inner face 26. The inner face 26 is theface of the member that is against the cylindrical post 14 when theclamp encircles the cylindrical post. The inner face 26 has aindentation 28 with a rectangular cross-section. A rib 30 extends intothe approximate center of the indentation and runs laterally in of theindentation 28 from the first face 16 to the second face 18.

The C-shaped members have an outer surface 32. The outer surface 32 ofthe C-shaped member is the surface opposite the inner face 26 of theC-shaped member. The shape outer surface 32 has a slot 34 which runsfrom the first face to the second face. The slot has a generallyrectangular cross section. Three sides of the rectangular cross sectionare formed by the outer surface of the C-shaped member. The fourth sideof the rectangular cross section is open. The open side of therectangular cross section of the slot 34 is parallel to the radius ofthe cylindrical post. The open side of the rectangular cross section ofthe slot 34 is referred to as the slot opening.

The C-shaped members have a third face 36 which can be seen on FIG. 2.The third face 36 extends perpendicularly to the first and second facesand perpendicularly to the inner face and outer surface. The third face36 and the slot 34 opening face the same direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two oppositely disposed C-shaped membersencircle the cylindrical post. The first face and second face of oneC-shaped member are placed against the second face and first face,respectively, of a second C-shaped member. In this configuration, theprotrusions 20 and cavities 22 align. The fastening elements 24 alsoalign. The two C-shaped members form a circle around the cylindricalpost. The invention is composed to two sets or two C-shaped membersencircling the vertical post. Referring to FIG. 2, the second set of twoC-shaped members are inverted such that the third faces 36 of the firstset of two C-shaped members abuts the third faces 36 of the second setof two C-shaped members. The first set of two C-shaped members arereferred to as a first C-shaped member 38, a second C-shaped member 40.The second set of two C-shaped members are referred to as a thirdC-shaped member 42, and a fourth C-shaped member 44. In theconfiguration described above, the slots of the first C-shaped member38, the second C-shaped member 40 faces the slots of the third C-shapedmember 42, and the fourth C-shaped member 44. These slots form a channel46 around the circumference of the assembled invention (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Strips

Retuning to FIG. 1, the invention is further comprised of four identicalstrips 12 of elastic material, such as rubber. Each of the four stripscorresponds to one of the C-shaped members such that each C-shapedmember is equipped with one strip. Each strip is the shape of arectangular box. Each strip is of a length and width approximately equalto the length and width of the indentations 28 on the inner face 26 ofthe C-shaped members 10. The strips are slightly thicker than theindentation is deep. The strip 12 is placed between the C-shaped member10 and the cylindrical post 14. The strip 12 is compressed between theinner face 26 of the C-Shaped member and the cylindrical post. The rib30 increases the compression on the strip 12.

Structural Members

The invention connects structural members to the cylindrical post. Asseen in FIG. 4, The structural members have an end 48 the shape of whichcorresponds to the shape of the channel 46. That is to say that one-halfof the end of the structural member fits into the slot on one side ofthe channel; and an opposite one-half of the end of the structuralmember fits into the slot on the opposite side of the channel. Thus,when the channel is placed around the end of the structural member, theend of the structural member is held by the channel.

Assembly

An exploded view of the assembly is shown in FIG. 2. The invention isassembled by encircling a cylindrical post with first and secondC-shaped members 38, 40 and encircling the cylindrical post with thirdand fourth C-shaped members 42, 44 adjacent to the first and secondC-shaped members. A first C-shaped member 38 and a second C-shapedmember 40 encircle the cylindrical post. The first and second C-shapedmembers are positioned around the cylindrical post by aligning the firstface of the first C-shaped member 38 with the second face of the secondC-shaped member 40. The faces are aligned such that the cavity on firstC-shaped member's face is filled by the protrusion on the secondC-shaped member's face. Likewise, the cavity on second C-shaped member'sface is filled by the protrusion on the first C-shaped member's face.The fastening elements 24 of the first and second C-shaped members alsoalign. As the C-shaped members 38, 40 are positioned around thecylindrical post 14, the strips 12 are placed between the C-shapedmembers and the post.

A third C-shaped member 42 and a fourth C-shaped member 44 encircle thecylindrical post adjacent to the first and second C-shaped members. Thethird and fourth C-shaped members are oriented such that the third faceof the first and second C-shaped members abuts the third face of thethird and fourth C-shaped members. Like the first and second C-shapedmembers described above, the third and fourth C-shaped members arepositioned around the cylindrical post 14 by aligning the first face ofthe third C-shaped member with the second face of the fourth C-shapedmember. The faces must be aligned such that the cavity on third C-shapedmember's first face is filled by the protrusion on the fourth C-shapedmember's second face. Likewise, the cavity on fourth C-shaped member'ssecond face is filled by the protrusion on the third C-shaped member'sfirst face. The means for fastening 24 of the third and fourth C-shapedmembers also aligns. As the C-shaped members 42, 44 are positionedaround the cylindrical post 14, the strips 12 are placed between theC-shaped members and the post.

The assembled invention is shown in FIG. 3. When the first and secondC-shaped members 38, 40 are fastened together the strips between thoseC-shaped members and the post are compressed. Likewise, when the thirdand fourth C-shaped members 42, 44 are fastened together the stripsbetween those C-shaped members and the post are compressed. FIG. 4 showsa cut-away view of the assembled invention in which the compressedstrips 12 are viewable.

Referring again to FIG. 4, with the four C-shaped members assembledaround the cylindrical post, the slots of the first two C-shaped membersand the slots of the second two C-shaped members face each other. Theslots facing each other form the channel 46. The channel 46 holds theends of the structural members 48. Because the channel runs the entirecircumference of the assembly, multiple structural members can beattached to each assembly (FIG. 5).

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to a certain embodiment thereof, other embodiments arepossible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims shouldnot be limited to the description of the embodiment contained herein.

1. An assembly for joining a cylindrical post having a generallycylindrically shaped surface to at least one structural member, theassembly comprising: a) a first C-shaped member, a second C-shapedmember, a third C-shaped member, and a fourth C-shaped member; eachC-shaped member being identical and having a first face, a second face,a third face, an inner face, an outer surface, means for alignment onthe first face and the second face, and means for fastening on the firstface and the second face; said first C-shaped member being connected tosaid second C-shaped member so as to encircle said cylindrical post andsuch that the means for alignment and the means for fastening on thefirst face of said first C-shaped member align with the means foralignment and the means for fastening of the second face of said secondC-shaped member and the means for alignment and the means for fasteningon the second face of said first C-shaped member align with the meansfor alignment and the means for fastening of the first face of saidsecond C-shaped member; said third C-shaped member being connected tosaid fourth C-shaped member so as to encircle said cylindrical post andsuch that the means for alignment and the means for fastening on thefirst face of said third C-shaped member align with the means foralignment and the means for fastening of the second face of said fourthC-shaped member and the means for alignment and the means for fasteningon the second face of said third C-shaped member align with the meansfor alignment and the means for fastening of the first face of saidfourth C-shaped member; said third C-shaped member and said fourthC-shaped member being positioned on said cylindrical post such that thethird faces of said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shapedmember abut the third faces of said first C-shaped member and saidsecond C-shaped member; b) strips positioned between the inner face ofthe C-shaped members and said cylindrical post.
 2. A method for joininga cylindrical post having a generally cylindrically shaped surface to atleast one structural member, the method comprising: a) encircling saidcylindrical post with a first C-shaped member and a second C-shapedmember, said first C-shaped member and said second C-shaped member eachhaving a slot, b) placing a strip between said first C-shaped member andsaid cylindrical post and placing a strip between said second C-shapedmember and said cylindrical post, c) fastening a first face of saidfirst C-shaped member to a second face of said second C-shaped memberand fastening a second face of said first C-shaped member to a firstface of said second C-shaped member; d) placing one-half of an end of atleast one structural member in the slot of the first C-shaped member; e)encircling said cylindrical post with a third C-shaped member and afourth C-shaped member adjacent to said first C-shaped member and saidsecond C-shaped member, said third C-shaped member and said fourthC-shaped member each having a slot, said third C-shaped member and saidfourth C-shaped member being oriented so that the slot of said thirdC-shaped member and the slot of said fourth C-shaped member faces theslot of said first C-shaped member and the slot of said second C-shapedmember, said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shaped member beingplaced and oriented such that one-half of said end of at least onestructural member is in the slot of the third C-shaped; f) placing astrip between said third C-shaped member and said cylindrical post andplacing a strip between said fourth C-shaped member and said cylindricalpost; g) fastening a first face of said third C-shaped member to asecond face of said fourth C-shaped member and fastening a second faceof said third C-shaped member to a first face of said fourth C-shapedmember.